toilet install

[FixerUpperDude]

Hi,

Is install a toilet like http://american-standard.cheaphomeid...074039045.aspx a big job?

We changed our houses original toilet (house is 15 years old) and the new toilet doesn't seem to flush as good as the original one. Could this be a installation problem or they just don't make them like they used too? hehe

Basically it takes 2 flushes to clean the water (sorry for the details but maybe it will help understand the situation hehe)

[LazyPup]

If you just installed a new toilet the problem may not be so much of a problem as a lack of understanding.

Due to federal water conservation guidelines toilets are now being equiped with a two stage flushing system. Basically if you just lightly depress the flush handle in the conventional manner only a portion of the water is discharged. Enough to discharge liquid wastes (urine). In order to effect a complete flush to handle solid wastes you must depress the flush handle fully and hold it about a second before releasing it. This is a very minor change in operation and often even the retailers are not aware of it, consequently the end user is not informed of the change.

Also, due to the limited amount of water being discharged (1.6 gal /flush) the water level in the tank is critical. After installing a toilet you must check the water level against the marked "water Level" index which is either printed or embossed in the tank wall and adjust the fill valve float to insure the water level is up to the mark.

[kactuskid]

There are also a few tweeks that you can do that may help. If there is a float on the chain that is connected to your flapper, you can lower the float down towards the flapper to keep the flapper open longer. This will allow more water to go into the bowl on a flush. If there isn't a float on the chain then you can easily replace the flapper with an auto dial flapper such as the fluidmaster Model 501. Turning the dial to position 9 allows the flapper to stay open longer and helps in getting a good first flush. They're under $5.00 and take less than 10 minutes to replace.